Question1961 Rambler American. Overhead valve 6 cylinder. Won't start. New battery. Not the starter. Seems not getting fuel to turn over. If I spray GUM Out into carb I can get it to catch but only for 2 seconds. Fuel in tank is at least 3 yrs old . Hasn't been driven for 6 months. When I could get it started it would idle choppy and then eventually stall out. If I turned quickly it would stall. But now I can't even get it to start. Possible clogged fuel filter? Clogged fuel lines? Carburetor? Know it's something simple but I'm not a mechanic. Please Help?
AnswerWithout knowing what you are able to do on your own, I can only suggest that you have the car diagnosed by a mechanic. You have pretty well proven that it is lack of usable fuel getting to the engine, but the cause could be any one of about 10 different things, and sorting that out takes some knowledge and experience.
Your fuel has probably gone sour - read on to see what to do about that. Usually, once you get the engine to start, it will keep going well enough to drive it to the gas station for fresh gas - but if you have a full tank of stale gas, you are going to have to drain it and refill it with fresh. That is the best procedure to avoid contaminating the carburetor by making it cope with stale gas. Of course, replace any fuel filters at this time.
Once you have good gas in the tank, if the car still doesn't want to run, and if you feel up to it, #1 thing to do is to remove the fuel line from the carburetor fuel inlet, then crank the engine. You should be seeing a healthy spurt of gas coming out of the open end of the fuel line each time the engine rotates one full turn. Have a temporary length of fuel hose on the end of the fuel line to conduct the fuel to a coffee can, so you don't spill gas. If you get a healthy spurt of gas (maybe a teaspoon full for each revolution of the engine), your problem is in the carburetor. If you don't, your problem is a failed fuel pump or a blocked fuel line.
If you determine that the carburetor needs help, my advice is to buy a new replacement (NOT REBUILT!) one - it will be more expensive, but it will work. My experience with so called "professionally rebuilt" carburetors is very poor. I rebuild my own, but the commercial re-builders must hire idiots - they are usually no good. The alternative is to rebuild it yourself - if you have an IQ above room temperature, can read and follow directions, have good eyesight, and have a clean well lighted place to work, you can do this yourself and then you will be an expert. No special tools are required - you will use only open-end wrenches, screwdrivers, small pliers, and your can of Gum-out. Just buy the kit for it and do it yourself - you'll save about $200!
To check for a blocked fuel line, disconnect the fuel line where it enters the fuel pump (the line coming from the fuel tank). Put your temporary fuel hose on the line that comes from the tank, and blow into it, while a helper listens at the tank filler cap to see if he can hear bubbles coming up in the tank. If he can, there is no problem with the fuel line or tank blockage. If that is your result, you have narrowed down the problem to the fuel pump itself. There will be a replacement pump at your friendly local auto parts store. These are tricky to replace - be sure that the lever enters the hole in the side of the engine in such a way that the rotating camshaft can pump the lever - this will make it hard to do, because you will be fighting the return spring on the lever to line up the bolt holes. If this is beyond your expertise, get someone to help.
As you are fiddling around with the gasoline, note the odor. If it has soured, it will smell a bit like vinegar instead of gasoline. Usually this takes more than 6 months if you are not using fuel stabilizer in the tank, but in 3 years, I'd be surprised if the gas is still good. Plan to drain and refill the tank soon. The engine may or may not run well enough to get you to the gas station with 3 year old gas in the tank, you may have to drain it at home and bring home fresh gas in a 5 gallon jerry can to get you going again. In the future, if you are going to let gas get that old, be sure to add some fuel stabilizer before you park it. Instructions are on the bottle.
I can sit here and type all night, but I'll quit here and wait to hear back from you after you have done the above. Those Rambler engines are one of the most reliable, long-lived engines ever made - don't give up on it!
Dick
